SARAWAK marks its 55th year of independence from British colonial rule tomorrow. It was on this day in 1963 that Sarawak was granted self-rule.

Like in the past six years when the federal government gave up trying to stifle rising state nationalism, the day is again expected to be marked in differing ways – depending on the individual’s political persuasion.

This unity in diversity is giving Sarawakians living in Kuching two choices where they want to go to mark the day.

There’s the official Gabungan Parti Sarawak government organised gathering at the Dataran Perayaan (celebration square) in Petra Jaya or they could join the ride with the human rights NGOs for their programme at the former gold mining town of Bau, some 36km from Kuching.

“I don’t care why so many groups are organising their respective independence day celebration,” former DAP lawmaker Voon Lee Shan told The Malaysian Insight recently.

“What I care is that we all know why they are doing it. They all know we were mistreated, short changed and had our rights (under the Malaysia Agreement 1963) taken away from us in the 55 years.

“This should open the eyes of the federal government. If they are shut, we want them to open them.

“We wan them to see that we don’t want to be bullied anymore,” Voon, the former Batu Lintang assemblyman who lost his seats in the controversial seat swap deal DAP had with PKR, said.

“The MA63 is not negotiable. We just want the rights that had been taken away back.”

As expected, the state government organised ceremonies tomorrow will be attended by the Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The official celebration kicked off with a series of events since August 14.

There was the 722 – the number denotes the date July 22 – unity futsal tournament, a thanks-giving prayers last night at a Petra Jaya mosque attended by the Governor, a Maksak (the civil service welfare and sports council) explorace-like challenge today, a unity run tonight with the celebration capped with a 722 unity concert at the celebration square tomorrow night.

Heading the bill are Dayang Nurfaizah and the state’s celebrated folk band AT Adau.

The NGOs that had groups like the Dayak National Congress (DNC), the reinstated Sarawak Association for Peoples’ Aspiration (SAPA), Saya Anak Sarawak (SAS), Dayak National Institute (DANI) and non-political groups like the Cross Country Riders, have opted to go rural.

“We want to reach out to the rural populace in Siniawan and Bau,” event organiser, Alim Mideh, said.

Siniawan is a major birds’ nest processing town midway between Kuching and Bau.

Like in past years, the gathering will be laced with political demands and this year is no different, Alim said.

He said the new demands for this year include the immediate demand for compliance with the MA63, rejection of the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) and Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA) in the state legislative assembly, and a full recognition of native customary rights (NCR) land.

The convoy would assemble at the Kuching Civic Centre before making their way to the Padang Merdeka in town and onwards to Bau.

Their official ceremonies in Bau include a flag-raising ceremony, singing of the Sarawak anthem and reading of a pledge of allegiance to Sarawak before selected speakers take to the podium speaks on their favourite subjects – the MA63, PDA, TSA, the cabotage policy and NCR land rights. – July 21, 2018.